Wednesday, November 26, 2008

That clip is so true. Not only with wives, but with children. One of our pastors in another state had a rule with his family that if he used them in a sermon without permission, he had to pay them a fixed amount (I can't remember how much)to compensate them for the embarrassment. That is a pretty good rule of thumb. What I usually do is let my wife read my sermons in advance, which alerts her to any mentions. But asking permission is always a good idea.

This year as you stuff your face and watch the Lions lose, spend a moment to reflect on these two things. Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation and an account of the first Thanksgiving by Edward Winslow:

Lincoln:"Inasmuch as we know that nations, like individuals, are subjected to the punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of Civil War that now desolates our land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people.

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God.

We have forgotten the gracious hand that preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us and we have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all of these blessings were provided by some superior wisdom or virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us.

It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended power to confess our national sins and pray for clemency and forgiveness."

Winslow's account:

"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, Many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

May your Thanksgiving be blessed by good food, good friends, and the love of your family.

This is a good question on a couple levels. This article briefly addresses the topic. Given that the world in which Christianity abides is undergoing such great transformation, what does that mean for the church corporately? What does it mean for us as individuals? It's a good thing to meditate on during Advent. As you anticipate the coming of the Christ, how then should we live?

Another article that touches on this from a slightly different perspective is here. It talks about the difference between God's image and likeness. The author posits the belief that we are created in God's image, but we grow into God's likeness as we draw closer to him, and take on his characteristics such as holiness, compassion, mercy, righteousness etc. It is through that trans formative process that Paul talks about in Romans 12 "Be transformed by the renewing of your minds" that is key. It is a view more traditionally aligned with the Orthodox Church, but one that John and Charles Wesley embraced as well.

The author is talking about Theosis - where we begin to take on the divine nature - and captures it well in this thought: Most important, the Orthodox understanding of theosis reminds us that salvation is less about what we get than about what God gets. It is about his purposes being accomplished in us. As the Reformed credo states: It is by his grace, for our good, to his glory.

As Advent approaches, think about how we can be more of a gift to God. Christ is his greatest gift to us, but the gift of his image isn't far behind. How can we take those gifts and grow into something that is pleasing and useful to God as He brings his Kingdom.

Something to chew on this holiday season. And it is fat-free and sugar-free. Be warned, it may cause some consternation and possible indigestion.

Monday, November 24, 2008

You have to love the logic behind this story. If a church can't provide shelter for homeless people 5 days per week, it can't do it at all. I'm sure the freezing homeless person appreciates the government's need for order in all things, but somehow telling churches that they cannot provide shelter to "the least of these" on a freezing night doesn't sit well.

Friday, November 21, 2008

I'm not going to write my own review, other than to say I own this CD and listen to it almost daily. I've had the privilege of worshiping at Jacob's Well twice, and it is an experience I look forward to each time I am in Kansas City.

Blessed when the plansThat you so carefully laidEnd up in the junkyardWith all the trash you made

Blessed when you feel likeGiving up the ghostBlessed when your loved onesAre the ones who hurt you most

Blessed when you lose yourOwn identityThen blessed when you find itAnd it has been redeemed

Blessed when you see whatYour friends can never beBlessed with your eyes closedThen blessed you see Me

These are words to build a life onThese are Your words how can they be mineThese are words to build a life onThese are Your words I want them to be mine

Blessed when you're hungryBlessed when you thirstCause that's when you will eat ofThe bread that matters most

Blessed when you're put downBecause of me you're dissedBecause of me you're kicked outThey take you off their list

You know you're on the markYou know you've got it rightYou are to be my saltYou are to be my light

So bring out all the flavourIn the feast of this My worldAnd light up all the coloursLet the banner be unfurled

Shout it from the rooftopsLet the trumpets ringSing your freaking lungs outJesus Christ is King!

Jesus is my SaviourJesus is divineJesus is my answerJesus is my life

These are words to build a life onThese are Your words how can they be mineThese are words to build a life onThese are Your words I want them to be mine

Give us ears that we may hear themvoice that we may sing themlife that we may live themhope that we may give themhearts that we can feel themeyes that we can see themthoughts that we may think themtongues that we may speak Your words

Thursday, November 20, 2008

This story has me a bit flummoxed. It seems that the Congressional Democrats want a business plan from the Big 3 automakers before they lend them any money as part of the Early Christmas Cash Giveaway in Washington, D.C. What is odd is that I don't remember AIG presenting a business plan for their $150 billion buffet at the taxpayer trough, nor do I remember any business plans being submitted for the $700 billion taxpayer shakedown for Wall Street. I also don't remember the pompous fools in Washington talking about the luxury jets of the Wall Street folks.

Mind you I'm not in favor of government intervention in markets. They generally screw up everything they touch. But it does seem a bit hypocritical for people who have totally mismanaged the federal budget for years to lecture the automakers on fiscal responsibility. I tip my hat to the anyone with the cojones it takes to pull that off with a straight face. But they did.

Nero is fiddling again. Except this time he has 535 heads and lives under a dome. And his new whipping boys aren't Christians. They are automaker executives.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Last night I was sitting in a local coffee shop reading a book for my evangelism class. I ordered some chili, and as is my custom, said grace before I ate. There was a couple in their 60s there who stopped and thanked me for saying grace as they left. They said that it blessed them to see someone still doing that in restaurants.

Isn't that just like God to take something that we may take for granted and use it to bless someone else. He truly is an amazing God!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Go read this article and shake your head. We have an epidemic of divorce that has swept this country, and we now have an agency advertising the motto "Life is short. Have an affair" over the airwaves. I've heard some bad advertising on "Sports talk Radio" in my lifetime. It seems to get more risque' as time passes. I thought it was bad enough to have to listen to ads for "Gentleman's Clubs" on the radio with my kids in the car. I cannot even imagine how the discussion would go after hearing this ad.

There is a reason Adultery is one of the Ten Commandments. It destabilizes society, destroys the family unit, and leads to rash actions such as violence and murder in fits of jealous rage. Just watch the TV crime shows. Murder by jealous spouse, or someone wanting to dispose of spouse to pursue their love affair are common themes. It's old school and was a capital crime in the Old Testament. David had Uriah killed so he could have Bathsheba more than 3000 years ago. And their first-born son died as a result. You can read that account here. It's not new, but it's still evil.

I may have to tune into commercial-free radio exclusively. This is nuts.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Monday, November 10, 2008

As I progress through seminary and continue to take steps toward entering the ministry full-time, I have endured a barrage of doubts and lies from the enemy that is growing in a crescendo. I don't feel worthy of my calling. I'm scared of where it might take me. I realize that God is faithful, but this is something new, something very scary to me, and something that I did not seek. I fought it for a long time, until the price of fighting was so high that I came to my senses and surrendered to God.

Despite all of the fears, doubts, concerns and all of the other emotions and thoughts that have flooded my brain, I still echo the words of this song in the clip above:

In the morning, when I riseIn the morning, when I riseIn the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,Give me Jesus,You can have all this world,But give me Jesus

When I am aloneWhen I am aloneWhen I am alone, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,Give me Jesus,You can have all this world,But give me Jesus

When I come to dieWhen I come to dieWhen I come to die, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,Give me Jesus,You can have all this world,You can have all this world,You can have all this world,But give me Jesus

As excited as I am about entering into ministry, there is also a sadness, almost a grieving, as one phase of my life ends. It marks the end of an era, and a new one unfolds. The good news is that I have Jesus.

Saturday, November 08, 2008

I have to admit that some of this is just stinging in its rebuke of the American church. Obviously they are using satire to make a point about how the church markets itself, and some of the practices within the church. Not everything here is necessarily bad, but when they are put together the weight is damning.

I encourage you to watch the clip a couple times. I think you might find some things worthy of leaving comments on.

Friday, November 07, 2008

I have posted on this song before, but I didn't have a decent video clip to use. This is one of my favorite Jars of Clay songs. It is decidedly melancholy, but it evokes powerful emotions within me. It is a song of someone searching for God but not finding Him. I've been there before, and every so often it is good to revisit that ground and listen for the still small voice that is God.

In a season where the Detroit Lions are halfway to perfection (they are 0-8) and quite possibly the worst record since Mr. Ford purchased them in 1963, they find a way to stick a dagger in my back. I've suffered with this disastrous franchise for all of my 41 years. So this year, in my fantasy football league I decide to pick up players playing the Lions, since they are destined for banner days against an awful defense. So far, so good.

Then yesterday the Lions knock out my quarterback, Kyle Orton, in a game that they had no business competing in. What have I done Mr. Ford? Why do you torment me like this. You put garbage on the field year in and year out, and when I finally get smart enough to play against your steaming pile of refuse, they jump up and bite me. What have I done to you to deserve this?

Sunday, November 02, 2008

This is a song by Randy Stonehill. I heard him sing this at Hills Alive in 1993 or 1994 in Spearfish, South Dakota.

Well we worship at the shroud of ElvisAnd we're waiting for that money from Ed McMahonAnd we're drinking from the Perrier fountain of youthWhile we follow what the daily horoscopes sayingTaking lethal doses of MTVDelving into pet psychiatryTrying to treat cancer with a fruit juice cureAnd waiting for the Beatles reunion tour

'Cuz it's a great big stupid worldAnd we're feeling kinda queasy as it turns aroundGreat big stupid worldAnd we're never really sure if we're up or downWe're on a dirt clod out in spaceWhere it stops nobody knowsIf Jesus came back todayThey'd try to book him on the Oprah Winfrey show'Cuz it's a great big stupid worldGreat big stupid world

Well we're hot on the trail of Big FootAnd we're wearing the crystals to feel the powerWe're hoping that the creatures from outer spaceCome to set us free in that final hourTrying to tell the future from the lumps on our headsGetting melanoma from our tanning bedsChanneling Houdini with Shirley MacLaineAnd trying to figure out what the dolphins are saying

About Me

I'm a Renaissance Man wannabee - I keep getting into weird stuff like trebuchet construction, potato mortars (really cool), bat house construction and strange things like that. I'm over 40, self-employed and the pastor of the Hobart Church of the Nazarene. I married way up, and have two wonderful daughters who continue to amaze me.